High-performance a-IGZO-based flexible TTFT with stacked dielectric layers via ultrathin high-κ SrTiO3 buffer layer grown on HfO2

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - In this study, ITO-coated PET was used as the substrate to create a flexible and transparent structure. a-IGZO (amorphous InGaZnO4) is...     

The effect of methyl-tri-n-butylammonium methylsulfate and graphite nanoplates on production of antistatic acrylic polymer

Methyl-tri-n-butylammonium methylsulfate (BIL) was incorporated into acrylic resin to improve antistatic property of acrylic polymer (AP). In order to avoid reduction in the mechanical properties of acrylic film and to reach higher electrical conductivity values, the combination of graphite nanoplates (Gr) and BIL was used. The effects of incorporation of BIL and Gr into AP on UV-blocking properties and UV transmittance data of acrylic films were measured. After 120 days, AP containing 5 wt% BIL and 0.01 wt% Gr, and AP+15 wt% BIL exhibited antistatic property. While BIL incorporation into acrylic resin deteriorated the mechanical properties, 0.01 wt% Gr incorporation increased the tensile strength by 83%.     

A simple and rapid microSepharose assay for GAD65 and ICA512 autoantibodies in diabetes. Diabetes Incidence Study in Sweden (DISS)

Three scales, the Fake Bad Scale, the Fake Good Scale, and the Fake Bad-Fake Good scales were developed and evaluated with respect to their capacity to detect response manipulation on the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised. Cutting scores for each scale were cross-validated in two samples consisting of three groups: (1) college students simulating either "fake good" or "fake bad," (2) college students under standard instructions, and (3) psychiatric patients. Cutting scores on the three scales were compared with cutting scores established for the MAACL-R Dysphoria and Positive Affect plus Sensation Seeking. Analysis indicated that these scales were more accurate than the Positive Affect plus Sensation Seeking and the Dysphoria scales in detecting response manipulation.     

Proposed method for calculating water penetration test parameters of wall assemblies as applied to Istanbul, Turkey

Water penetration of a building envelope assembly is typically assessed on the basis of the degree of watertightness (i.e. lack of water ingress) of the components of the assembly when subjected to simulated driving rain conditions. Test standards provide the magnitude and extent of these test conditions as suggested by the test parameters, i.e. the water spray rates and pressure differences and the dwell time over which these are to be applied. Such conditions would presume to simulate driving rain and wind conditions of locations spread over a broad geographical area. For example, the water spray rate suggested for use in watertightness performance tests in EN 12155—Curtain walling–watertightness–laboratory test under static pressure—is considered appropriate for simulating driving rain and wind conditions for locations across Europe. However, test parameters should be based on the expected driving rain intensities and wind pressures that are likely to occur for a specific climate and a given return period. It might also be based on the building type (e.g. high or low-rise building), or even on the location on the building facade. Hence, a method is required for calculating water penetration test parameters for specific buildings located in a specific climate. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method for calculating water penetration test parameters. A survey of existing methods is first provided that focuses on the quantification of driving rain on buildings and thereafter, calculation of water penetration test parameters. The merits and drawbacks of these methods are then discussed. Based on this review, a method for calculating test parameters is proposed and is applied to developing water penetration test parameters for Istanbul, Turkey. A comparison of test parameters calculated from the proposed method with those given in existing Turkish standards TS EN 12155–Curtain walling–watertightness–laboratory test under static pressure—and TS ENV 13050—Curtain walling–watertightness–laboratory test under dynamic condition of air pressure and water spray—related to Istanbul, indicated that the water spray rate given in the TS standards is higher than spray rates calculated from the proposed method for return periods of 5, 10 and 30 years.     

Effect of Al2O3 Additions on the Thermal Expansion Behavior of a Li2O-ZnO-SiO2 Glass-Ceramic

The effect of Al₂O₃ substitution on the thermal expansion behavior of a Li₂O-ZnO-SiO₂ glass-ceramic was investigated using differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and dilatometry. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the original Al₂O₃-free glass-ceramic measured between 20° and 900°C decreased from 12.4 × 10^-6°C^-1 to 6.3 × 10^-6°C^-1 with Al₂O₃ substitution for ZnO up to 11 wt%. The results were correlated to the changes in the phase assemblage with Al₂O₃ addition.     

Assessment of DFG-S19 method for the determination of common endocrine disruptor pesticides in wine samples with an estimation of the uncertainty of the analytical results

A gas chromatographic method for the determination of endocrine disruptor pesticides (Chlorpyrifos, Penconazole, Procymidone, Iprodione, Bromopropylate and Lambda-Cyhalothrin) in wine samples is described. A general DFG-S19 method for residual pesticide determination in all kind of food stuff was investigated to simplify and adopt for wine samples in this work. Alternative sample preparation routes were elucidated and compared according to their recovery values. Four different separation techniques were tested and the method employing florosil column after a LLE procedure was applied for wine samples with satisfactory recovery ratios (72–97%). The pesticides were extracted from the sample by cyclohexane–ethyl acetate mixture (1:1 v/v) and cleaned up by florosil column. The regression coefficients were at least 0.99 and relative standard deviations were no higher than 16%. Detection limits were in the range of 0.6–2.9 ng/mL and the relative expanded measurement uncertainties were calculated in the 7–22% range.     

Water content and temperature effect on ultrasonic pulse velocity of concrete

In this paper, water content and temperature effect on the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) of concrete was investigated. A series of tests were performed to examine the relationship between water content and UPV of concrete with different aggregate mixture proportions. Cube test specimens were made of concrete with water-cement ratio of 0.5. The concrete specimens were immersed in water for 90 days to saturate them. To measure the effect of different water contents on UPV, the test specimens were dried gradually to change the amount of water between measurements. This process was repeated until the concrete pieces was completely dried and weight no longer changed. The water content could be changed from about 6 to 0%. Following, another test procedure was conducted to research the relationship between temperature and UPV. To measure the influence of various temperature on UPV, completely dried concrete specimens were firstly cooled to –18°C and gradually heated to +180°C. In these two different procedures, the UPV values corresponding water content and temperature in the relevant ranges were periodically measured. The test results indicate that the increase in both water content and temperature increases almost linearly UPV of concrete. Based on correlation derived from the test data, irrespective of concrete properties a further increase in both water content of 1% and temperature of 10°C increases UPV of average 160 and 34 m/s, respectively. As overall assessment, this study demonstrates that the UPV is a function of both water content and temperature, and the changing of these two parameters has an important influence on ultrasonic pulse velocity of concrete.     

Performance Enhancement of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells by Coating with Luminescent Silicon Nanostructures

In this work we report a technique that is potentially capable of increasing the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells, which dominate the present-day market of photovoltaic devices. The simple and cost-effective method involves coating the surface of a commercially procured silicon solar cell with luminescent silicon nanocrystals. Core/shell silicon/silicon-oxide nanostructures are fabricated by an inexpensive and reproducible technique, where coarse silicon powders are repeatedly milled, oxidized, and etched until their sizes are reduced so as to exhibit room-temperature photoluminescence under ultraviolet excitation. A thin coating of these nanostructures on a standard solar cell, obtained by a simple dip-coating method, increases the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, which consequently increases the maximum power delivered by ~16.3% and efficiency by almost ～39%. We propose that the core/shell nanostructures act as luminescent convertors that convert higher-energy photons to lower-energy photons, thereby leading to less thermal relaxation loss of photoexcited carriers.     

Modified gold surfaces by 6-(ferrocenyl)hexanethiol/dendrimer/gold nanoparticles as a platform for the mediated biosensing applications

An electrochemical biosensor mediated by using 6-(Ferrocenyl) hexanethiol (FcSH) was fabricated by construction of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the surface of polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM) modified gold electrode. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was used as a model enzyme and was immobilized onto the gold surface forming a self assembled monolayer via FcSH and cysteamine. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were used for the characterization of electrochemical response towards glucose substrate. Following the optimization of medium pH, enzyme loading, AuNP and FcSH amount, the linear range for the glucose was studied and found as 1.0 to 5.0 mM with the detection limit (LOD) of 0.6 mM according to S/N = 3. Finally, the proposed Au/AuNP/(FcSH + Cyst)/PAMAM/GOx biosensor was successfully applied for the glucose analysis in beverages, and the results were compared with those obtained by HPLC.